U.S. takes back $100 million from Afghan government over corruption

Associated Press|Published: 09.19.19 , 19:50

Washington is taking back $100 million intended for an Afghan energy infrastructure project, citing unacceptably high levels of corruption in the Afghan government, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday in a harshly worded statement.

The U.S. will still finish the massive project, Pompeo said, which involves five power substations and a maze of transmission lines in southern Afghanistan. It just won't be spending the money through Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government, blaming the "Afghan government's inability to transparently manage U.S. Government resources."